Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.1916

c9.1916

Lakṣmī, Sarasvatī and Gaṅgā were the wives of Mahāviṣṇu. One day Viṣṇu was sitting with his three wives and entertaining them with conversation when Devī Gaṅgā looked at Viṣṇu amorously. Instantly a quarrel arose among the three of them. When the row became uncontrollable, Sarasvatī cursed Lakṣmī to take birth in the earth as a plant. Gaṅgā cursed Sarasvatī and made her a river. Sarasvatī cursed Gaṅgā and made her a river. At the end of all these rows and curses Viṣṇu stood up and said to Lakṣmī: 'you will take birth as the daughter of Dharmadhvaja on the earth with the name Tulasī. In order that the curse of Sarasvatī may come true, a plant called Tulasī (holy basil) will grow up on the earth from a portion of you. While you are living as the daughter of Dharmadhvaja, an asura named Śaṅkhacūḍa born from my portion will marry you."